SeLeCtINg A SuItABLe SIte It is not a good idea to clear new sites for cocoa if your old cocoa trees are not producing and just need to be rehabilitated. It is better to rehabilitate cocoa rather than clear bush unnecessarily. Always make sure you leave enough land for food gardens and houses, and bush for firewood and building materials With new cocoa, only plant what you and your family can manage. An average family of six can comfortably manage 500 -1000 trees. • Secondary regrowth bush is preferable to primary forest sites. • Food gardens can be used, with bananas providing temporary shade until cocoa trees are established. • The slope of the area should not be more than 30 degrees. • The site should not be too close to the sea, as salt will damage cocoa leaves. Bush should be cleared before planting shade trees and cocoa seedlings .The problem with using bush as shade is that it is difficult to remove or thin- out later when the young cocoa trees need more sunlight to produce pods.
Clearing land for cocoa
SOLOMON ISLANDS COCOA BOOK
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